Import of foodstuffs from Japan's 6 prefectures suspended

MOSCOW, March 24 (Itar-Tass) - Rospotrebnadzor (Federal Service for
Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Welfare) has suspended the
circulation and import into Russia of foodstuffs produced after March 11
in the following six Japanese prefectures: Gunma, Fukushima, Chiba,
Ibaraki, Nagano, and Tochigi, a Rospotrebnadzor official has told
Itar-Tass.
This measure has been taken, the official said, "with due regard for
the incoming information from the International Food Safety Authorities
Network (INFOSAN) of the World Health Organization about the content of
Iodine-131 and Caesium in foodstuffs exceeding norm in Japan's six
prefectures, as well as the introduction of measures in Japan to ban the
circulation of a number of foodstuffs".
Rospotrebnadzor specialists have been monitoring the radiological
situation in the Far Eastern Federal District round the clock since March
12, the Federal Service official pointed out. The measurements of
gamma-ray radiation levels are made every hour. The Federal Service has
been continuously monitoring compliance with sanitary requirements, and
has prepared recommendations in the event of an unfavourable development
of events at nuclear power plants in Japan. As of now, not a single
instance of radiological contamination has been recorded. Rospotrebnadzor
officials pointed out that they closely inspect foodstuffs coming in from
Japan.
The sampling of seawater in Sakhalin Region showed that total
beta-activity levels accord with the natural background values. The study
of fish samples in Kamchatka Territory revealed no exceeding of health
standards either.